Pikey powers late treble at Ascot

by Luke Sheehan

Forceful's win gave Pike a running trebleImage: Western Racepix

Pike powers late treble

The champion Perth hoop William Pike started his day in frustrating fashion by his standards - three seconds from his first four rides - but he came home like the reliable steam train that he is, scoring in the final three races - all in the cerise and white for owner Bob Peters, and trainers Grant and Alana Williams. Adornment ($1.95) claimed the Listed Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m) by 1.25L, before Regal Power ($1.80) toughed out a narrow win in the Listed Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) from the Bruce Watkins-trained Fred Dag. He polished off the treble aboard Forceful ($3.40), with 1L to spare on the Lindsey Smith-trained Friaresque ($8.50).

This 5YO gelding is proving himself a revelation in the West. In 21 starts on the Eastern seaboard, he won just twice - breaking his maiden at Moonee Valley at start No.2, then a Class 1 at Pakenham. He's had a total 13 starts under trainer Mark Bairstow, and in his past 11, has won five times plus two runner-up finishes. In doing so, the More Than Ready gelding has earned over $175,000 this season alone.

Dam Ready ($7.50) completed Mitchell Pateman's winning double, having earlier booted home the Brett Pope-trained Bella's Idol ($17) to take his city winners tally to 21. He's now three clear in the 'best of the rest' stakes from Shaun McGruddy (18), with no-one catching the juggernaut that is Pike (85).

The market wasn't expecting Freo to fire - $8.50-$12 - but even still his beaten performance first-up would've been a concern, finishing second-last over 1400m. A Group 3 winner in November, Freo had several excuses on Saturday though (carrying 61.5kg too) - as did many in what was a pretty bunched finish, the last horse only 5.5L behind runner-up Friaresque.

The stewards' report from race eight (Image: RWWA Stewards)

Spell for The Fugazi

It was a quick-fire campaign to forget for the Chris Gangemi-trained Sebring gelding. The 3YO had competed against Arcadia Queen in the W.A. Guineas in November - beaten 8.2L by the superstar. In his two starts in February, he was beaten at $1.45 and $1.55 respectively, and didn't show any abnormalities following his mid-week defeat at Ascot, hence Gangemi confirmed on Saturday a spell was in order.